Every book has its history, the poet said, and this also concerns its pre-history, certainly in the present case. he book was conceived more then a decade ago in conversation with the irst undersigned, and along many ways—sometimes mysterious, true to the theme—it has grown and matured into the present publication. It is an occasion worth celebrating. The importance of mysticism not only in early Judaism but also in nascent Christianity is still to gain the recognition it deserves in scholarship. Fierce debate is going on about the relevance of the sources, in particular the rabbinic ones, and the present volume takes position in this dispute. It is here concluded that Jewish mystical traditions played a crucial role in the life and thought of the protagonists of the New Testament, as also in the rise and development of the central ideology of Christianity, Christology. If correct, the consequences of this insight are manifold for theological and historical scholarship, as well as for Christian-Jewish relations. he present volume, which of course cannot pretend to be more than a contribution to the discussion, is an important step forward, and its authors are to be warmly congratulated.Not only methodological barriers were to be overcome in preparing this volume, but also innumerable editorial and typographical problems. Many have made their contribution in resolving these diiculties, and insofar as they are not mentioned elsewhere in the book, we wish to express here our sincere gratitude to them.

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